A free story bible template you can fill in today

What is in the template

• Character sheets

  Name, role, description, goals, relationships, and a place to note inventory, stats, and skills.

• World and lore

  Locations, factions, history, and the rules of your world (including magic systems).

• Timeline

  Story days and plot points so the sequence of events stays clear across the book.

• Continuity log

  A running list of details to keep straight, from wounds and weather to who knows what and when.

Story bible example

Here is a short filled-in example so you can see the shape before you start. Copy the pattern for each character in your book.

• Lyra Thorne — Protagonist

  Carries a silver dagger (Ch 1) and the Captain’s ring (Ch 3). Speaks the Old Tongue at level 2. Loses the dagger at the docks in Ch 4. Trusts Marek; wary of Captain Vex.

• The Port of Vael — Location

  Salt-and-iron harbor town, introduced Ch 2. Ruled by the Harbor Council. The Last Tide bell marks the evening curfew, which matters to the Ch 3 break-in.

• Continuity note

  The dagger must not appear after Ch 4 until Lyra recovers it. Flag any later scene that puts it back in her hand before then.

From template to living series bible

A template is a great start, but it goes stale the moment your draft moves on. When you outgrow the document, Clifford turns it into a story bible that updates itself, tracking each detail against the chapter it changes. For a whole series, the same reference becomes a series bible that carries your cast forward into every new book.

Story bible template FAQ

Is the template really free?

Yes. No paywall and no email required. Download it, keep it, and use it however you like.

Can I use it as a series bible template?

Yes. The same structure works for a series; add a section per book, or move into Clifford, which carries characters across books automatically.

What format is the download?

A PDF you can print or fill in digitally.